Locomotive-spring



(No" Mode1.)

J. A. WE'NDLIGK 8v P. LYNCH. LOGOMOTIVE SPRING.

No. 410,868. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN A. VVENDLIOK AND PETER LYNCH, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

LOCOMOTlVE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,868, datedSeptember 10, 1889.

Application filed July 12, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that We, JOHN A. WVENDLICK and PETER LYNCH, both of St.Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Springs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to the supportingsprings of locomotive-engines;and it consists in the improved construction of the main or supportingleaves of said springs. As ordinarily constructed, the upper or mainleaf of the spring, in order to furnish a suitable shoulder or recess ateach end to hold in position the connecting link-key or stirrup, haswelded to each end, on its upper surface, a grooved or otherwiseproperly-shaped block of iron, formed either by hand or by means ofdies, or has the end upset and the thickened portion then formed intothe proper shape to give the desired support. This method of forming thespring is objectionable for several reasons. The mass of metal isincreased by the added thickness to the leaf, so that the operation oftempering cannot be performed uniformly for the whole leaf, and whilethe body of the leaf is brought to a proper temper the thickened end isleft too hard, and therefore the more liable to break age, and when theend of the leaf is turned back on itself and welded the cutting away ofa groove to receive a link key or stirrup weakens the overlappingportion, so as to make it liable to breakage. Another serious objectionis the amount of labor required in this work, which, together with theexpense of materials, adds materially to the cost of the spring. By ourimproved construction the leaf is left of substantially the samethickness throughout, so as to receive a uniform temper, while the costof forming is reduced to a minimum,because the Work is performed bymeans of dies to shape the leaf itself, without the addition of otherpieces, and no welding or repeated heatings are required, a single heatto a cherry red being all that is necessary for the whole operation. Inthis construction, also, there is no danger Serial No. 317,487- (Nomodel.)

from breakage because of imperfect welding, or injury to the steel byoverheating or burning.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved spring, showing thesupporting links and keys in position. Fig. 2 is a detail plan View ofthe end of main leaf. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same on line y 'yof Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections of the samerespectively on lines .2 z and 00 x of Fig. 2; and Figs. 6, 7, S, 9,

10, and 11 are details of modified forms of the same.

In the drawings, 2 represents the main or upper leaf of the spring 3, ateither end of which is supported a suitable hanger or link 4, whichpasses through the slot 5, and is held in position by means of the key6, which rests in the groove 7, formed transversely of the leaf.

In order to form the support for the key in the construction shown inFigs. 1 to 5, inclusive, or the shoulders or saddles shown in Figs. 6 to11, inclusive, the leaf is subjected to a suitable heat, preferablycherry red, and

then, by means of suitable dies under a trip,

drop, or steam hammer, the centralportion of the leaf, near the end, orat a point where the support is required,is impressed with the dies, soas to form a depression or socket on the under side and a raised portionor pro jection on the upper side, while the alignment of the edge of theleaf is unchanged.

Any form of impression desired may be given to the leaf by suit-abledies 5 but those shown in the drawings are the ordinary and preferablestyles.

It is apparent that a leaf formed in the manner described, instead ofbeing weakened at the place of support by the shaping process, is, onthe contrary, rather strengthened to resist breakage, and the simplework of forming is completed in a single brief operation at theexpenditure of a small fraction of the labor and material usuallyemployed.

We claim- As an improved article of manufacture, a

locomotive -spring having its upper or snp- In testimony whereof Wehavchereunto set porting leaf formed at the ends by means of our hands this29th day of June, 188.).

dies to receive suitable hangers or links, IT VF TDLICK whereby thecentral portion of the body of LQ E L 5 the leaf is given the desiredshaping or curvature, while the edges of the leaf are left In presenceof straight or in alignment with the main body A. M. GASKILL, of theleaf, substantially as described. '1. l). MERWIN.

